NameCensus.

UK surname

Lloyd

A surname of Welsh origin meaning "gray" or "brown," likely referring to the color of one's hair or complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 34,911 people recorded with the Lloyd surname, ranking it #92 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48,856, ranked #99, down from #92 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Herefordshire and Ceredigion.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lloyd is 50,127 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.9%.

1881 census count

34,911

Ranked #92

Modern count

48,856

2016, ranked #99

Peak year

1999

50,127 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lloyd had 34,911 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #92 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 48,856 in 2016, ranked #99.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 47,900 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lloyd surname distribution map

The map shows where the Lloyd surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Lloyd surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lloyd over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 22,907 #91
1861 historical 23,119 #92
1881 historical 34,911 #92
1891 historical 38,535 #86
1901 historical 43,646 #91
1911 historical 47,900 #78
1997 modern 47,793 #94
1998 modern 49,657 #94
1999 modern 50,127 #94
2000 modern 49,976 #94
2001 modern 48,710 #94
2002 modern 49,636 #96
2003 modern 48,476 #95
2004 modern 48,449 #95
2005 modern 47,588 #96
2006 modern 47,667 #97
2007 modern 47,903 #98
2008 modern 48,165 #98
2009 modern 49,320 #98
2010 modern 50,060 #99
2011 modern 49,463 #98
2012 modern 48,313 #99
2013 modern 49,357 #99
2014 modern 49,669 #99
2015 modern 49,057 #99
2016 modern 48,856 #99

Geography

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Where Lloyds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Toxteth Park and Merthyr Tydfil. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Herefordshire, Ceredigion and Flintshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 011 Powys
2 Herefordshire 006 Herefordshire, County of
3 Ceredigion 011 Ceredigion
4 Flintshire 003 Flintshire
5 Powys 015 Powys

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lloyd

These lists show first names that appear often with the Lloyd surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lloyd

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lloyd, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Lloyd surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lloyd household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lloyd is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lloyd is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lloyd falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lloyd is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Lloyd, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lloyd

The surname Lloyd has its origins in Wales, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Welsh word "llwyd," meaning "grey" or "brown," and was likely originally a nickname or descriptive name given to someone with grey or brown hair or complexion.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Lloyd can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire, England, from 1199, where a person named Robertus Loyd is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been adopted by the English by the late 12th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Lloyd, Lloid, Loyd, and Loyde. It is believed to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Montgomeryshire in Wales, as well as in the English counties bordering Wales.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Lloyd was Gruffydd Llwyd (c. 1300-1370), a Welsh poet and genealogist. He was a prominent figure in the court of Prince Owain Glyndŵr and played a significant role in the Welsh War of Independence against the English in the early 15th century.

Another notable Lloyd was Humphrey Llwyd (c. 1527-1568), a Welsh cartographer and historian who produced one of the earliest detailed maps of Wales, known as the "Llwyd Manuscript." He also wrote extensively about Welsh history and geography.

In the 16th century, the Lloyd family became influential landowners in various parts of Wales, particularly in the counties of Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire. One notable member of this family was Sir Gruffydd Llwyd (c. 1520-1586), who served as High Sheriff of Denbighshire and was involved in the suppression of the Welsh Uprising of 1536-1537.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, several members of the Lloyd family sided with the Parliamentarians against King Charles I. One of the most prominent figures was John Lloyd (1613-1687), a Welsh soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and played a key role in the Commonwealth government under Oliver Cromwell.

Another notable Lloyd from this period was David Lloyd (1625-1691), a Welsh Quaker and writer who emigrated to Pennsylvania in the late 17th century. He served as the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania and was instrumental in the early development of the colony.

Throughout history, the Lloyd surname has been associated with various notable figures in politics, literature, and other fields, both in Wales and beyond. Its origins as a descriptive name rooted in the Welsh language and culture have contributed to its enduring significance and popularity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lloyd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lloyd surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 3,896 Lloyds recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,896 0.96x
Middlesex 2,696 0.79x
Glamorgan 2,516 4.24x
Staffordshire 2,304 2.00x
Shropshire 2,127 7.22x
Denbighshire 1,896 14.71x
Cheshire 1,409 1.87x
Cardiganshire 1,266 15.21x
Surrey 1,260 0.76x
Montgomeryshire 1,123 14.37x
Flintshire 1,116 12.17x
Monmouthshire 1,067 4.33x
Merionethshire 1,051 16.84x
Carmarthenshire 1,022 7.11x
Warwickshire 1,005 1.17x
Worcestershire 926 2.08x
Pembrokeshire 775 7.15x
Herefordshire 714 5.10x
Caernarfonshire 704 5.10x
Radnorshire 684 24.85x
Yorkshire 597 0.18x
Gloucestershire 511 0.76x
Kent 459 0.39x
Brecknockshire 433 6.35x
Essex 316 0.47x
Hampshire 281 0.40x
Somerset 250 0.46x
Sussex 237 0.41x
Suffolk 236 0.57x
Anglesey 214 3.54x
Durham 157 0.15x
Derbyshire 151 0.28x
Devon 148 0.21x
Berkshire 147 0.57x
Wiltshire 117 0.39x
Norfolk 99 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 97 0.47x
Leicestershire 93 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 93 0.20x
Lincolnshire 85 0.16x
Oxfordshire 80 0.38x
Lanarkshire 77 0.07x
Hertfordshire 75 0.32x
Northumberland 73 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 62 0.29x
Midlothian 37 0.08x
Northamptonshire 37 0.12x
Dorset 35 0.16x
Royal Navy 32 0.79x
Cumberland 28 0.10x
Cornwall 24 0.06x
Channel Islands 22 0.22x
Bedfordshire 20 0.11x
Fife 13 0.06x
Westmorland 11 0.15x
Isle of Man 10 0.16x
Renfrewshire 9 0.03x
Stirlingshire 9 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 8 0.12x
East Lothian 7 0.15x
Angus 5 0.02x
Dunbartonshire 5 0.05x
Morayshire 2 0.04x
Peeblesshire 2 0.12x
Roxburghshire 2 0.03x
Argyllshire 1 0.01x
Ayrshire 1 0.00x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.01x
Perthshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 476 Lloyds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.66x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 476 1.66x
Toxteth Park 420 3.06x
Liverpool 393 1.60x
Ystradyfodwg 357 6.85x
Bedwellty 332 7.63x
Everton 325 2.52x
Merthyr Tydfil 321 5.62x
Aston 301 1.27x
St Pancras London 268 0.98x
Lambeth 265 0.89x
Festiniog 240 18.22x
Aberdare 228 5.59x
Ruabon 218 12.30x
West Bromwich 214 3.25x
Islington London 213 0.64x
West Derby 213 1.80x
Wolverhampton 208 2.35x
Dudley 199 3.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 197 1.61x
Hackney London 188 0.98x
Camberwell 179 0.82x
Swansea Town 164 3.37x
Kensington London 163 0.86x
Holywell 160 13.90x
Llanelly 160 4.94x
Shoreditch London 154 1.04x
Walsall Foreign 140 2.35x
Birkenhead 138 2.30x
Bethnal Green London 136 0.92x
Manchester 134 0.74x
Llanbeblig 133 9.50x
Kirkdale 132 1.94x
Mile End Old Town London 128 1.76x
Wednesbury 128 4.45x
North Meols 126 3.18x
Oswestry Town 126 13.35x
Carmarthen St Peter 123 10.01x
Hulme 123 1.46x
Pembroke St Mary 120 8.60x
St Marylebone London 120 0.66x
Trevethin 120 5.15x
Oswestry Rural 116 25.69x
West Ham 115 0.77x
Aberystwith 109 15.22x
Mold 108 12.99x
Harborne 107 2.90x
Aberystruth 103 4.74x
Bilston 103 4.62x
Clase 103 4.66x
Paddington London 103 0.82x
Newington 102 0.81x
Sedgley 102 2.39x
Willenhall 101 4.68x
Chester St John Baptist 100 7.39x
Chelsea London 97 0.94x
Kings Norton 97 2.43x
Ynyscynhaiarn 97 15.10x
Croydon 96 1.04x
Madeley 96 8.88x
St George Hanover Square 96 1.60x
Chester St Oswald 95 6.97x
Henllan 93 28.27x
Broseley 92 17.57x
Llanfihangel Y Traethau 92 25.93x
Stafford St Mary 92 5.64x
Bermondsey 91 0.90x
Kidderminster Borough 91 3.49x
Shrewsbury St Mary 90 7.74x
Denbigh 89 17.21x
Wellington 89 5.37x
Cheltenham 88 1.71x
Llanwonno 85 3.98x
Warrington 85 1.77x
Wrexham Regis 85 8.88x
Flint 84 16.14x
Battersea 83 0.66x
Hammersmith London 82 0.98x
Oystermouth 82 17.84x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 81 1.29x
Tipton 81 2.30x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lloyd surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 2,718
Elizabeth 1,638
Sarah 1,262
Jane 923
Margaret 767
Ann 763
Eliza 468
Ellen 422
Annie 369
Anne 368
Catherine 350
Alice 346
Emma 345
Hannah 334
Martha 328
Emily 288
Harriet 224
Maria 182
Louisa 176
Edith 172
Caroline 158
Fanny 146
Florence 140
Charlotte 132
Ada 118
Clara 108
Esther 107
Eleanor 105
Lucy 102
Frances 98
Elizth. 95
Kate 95
Susan 90
Rachel 83
Agnes 77
Harriett 72
Amelia 64
Sophia 64
Rebecca 60
Susannah 59
Julia 57
Amy 56
Isabella 56
Jessie 56
Ruth 53
Laura 52
Lizzie 52
Margret 52
Rose 52
Cathrine 49

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lloyd surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 2,497
William 2,071
Thomas 1,580
David 835
George 734
Edward 723
James 700
Robert 528
Henry 522
Charles 482
Richard 463
Joseph 424
Arthur 284
Evan 282
Samuel 265
Alfred 235
Walter 174
Frederick 173
Albert 162
Edwin 135
Benjamin 132
Hugh 122
Francis 116
Harry 112
Daniel 106
Thos. 99
Peter 93
Wm. 93
Herbert 90
Ernest 87
Lewis 84
Owen 77
Frank 73
Isaac 59
Griffith 49
Rees 39
Ellis 33
Enoch 33
Abraham 32
Edmund 31
Edwd. 31
Morgan 31
Stephen 29
Geo. 28
Fred 27
Llewelyn 26
Llewellyn 25
Humphrey 24
Willm. 24
Richd. 23

FAQ

Lloyd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lloyd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34,911 people were recorded with the Lloyd surname. That placed it at #92 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lloyd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 48,856 in 2016. That gives Lloyd a modern rank of #99.

What does the Lloyd surname mean?

A surname of Welsh origin meaning "gray" or "brown," likely referring to the color of one's hair or complexion.

What does the Lloyd map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lloyd bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.